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The death in 2006 of Adam Hartmann’s dad could have been prevented if the cement truck that hit his bicycle had sideguards, the 10-year-old said Monday.

Accompanied by mom Karen MacNeil-Hartmann and Toronto MP Olivia Chow, he called on Ontario’s government to back the federal NDP transport critic’s repeated call for all transports and other heavy trucks in the province to don protective skirts.

The sideguard requirement was one of several recommendations in the latest review of cycling deaths by Ontario’s chief coroner, which was released beside Queen’s Park before Chow’s roadside press conference.

“My dad was struck on his way home from work,” Adam said at the corner of Sterling Rd. and Dundas St. W., where Ulrich Hartmann, 47, was fatally injured almost six years ago.

“It’s time to change the laws of Canada,” said the lad, who has promoted sideguards at other press conferences and made speeches at schools.

His mother said she visited her husband’s grave on Sunday with Adam, “not a typical way to spend Father’s Day.”

Chow said the truck skirts, which would prevent cyclists from ending up under wheels, cost from $800 to $2,000 and are more aerodynamic and would reduce fuel consumption.

Chow, who campaigned for the sideguards as a city councillor in Toronto — where more cyclists are at risk on congested streets than on highways — said she plans to meet Wednesday with Denis Lebel, the federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, “who is himself a cyclist.”